Save Fire Island Inlet – Your help is needed

Yes FI Inlet is shoaling up and in danger of becoming completely useless. Our Gateway to the outside world is in danger of being closed. Right now there are spots between Buoy 6 and Buoy 4 that are less than 4 ½’ feet at low tide. The Inlet which is supposed to be dredged every two years has not been dredged since 2007. This combined with significant winter storms and the erosion of the beaches along Fire Island has resulted in severe shoaling of the Inlet. I have been using FI Inlet for the past 35 years and this is by far the worst that I have seen it.  I and several other members of the Club have hit bottom while transiting the Inlet. If the Inlet is not dredged it will become completely impassible. With the shoaling of Moriches Bay blocking us on the east the only other option we would have would be Jones Inlet.

Your help is needed to help solve this critical problem. Approximately $10 million in government funds are required to finance the dredging of the inlet. The plan that was adopted by the Board is to support the efforts of the Captree Boat Owners Association, which has gotten the attention of our senators, representatives and local representatives. You may have seen the articles in the Newsday about their efforts.  At this point the issue is clear and understood, but the money is not forthcoming

What is needed is for each of us to write to our federal, state and local representatives. For example for me that would be: Schumer and Gillibrand, Israel, Owen Johnson, Phil Boyle. Everyone should write to Sallie Fields, even if she is not your representative as she is a strong driver and supporter of this effort.

Your letters should be either handwritten or typed. It is necessary to stress the importance of the Inlet to you, the cruising Club and the Community as a whole. Try to include points that may not be mentioned by others, especially for each individual representative after writing the letter, FAX it to them, and then drop it in the mail. After a few days, call their local office and ask if they have read it you may not get the representative but should get to speak to one of their aides, and discuss it briefly to insure they did, and make sure they understand the issue. Provide them with contact information the letter and on the phone call, so that they may follow up with any questions or potential solutions. Keep the contact open every week or ten days, if it is convenient.

Please write letters to:

US Senators: Schumer and Gillibrand

US Congressman: Isreal and King

NY State Senator: Owen Johnson

NY State Representatives: Boyle and Fields

The contact information for these elected officials.

Also provided on this website is a copy that Bob Forman has written that can be used as a template. Please customize this letter to include your own personal experiences

And a letter from Owen Johnson (and page 2) to our senators.